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Otter dicks are shrinking thanks to pollution, and you should definitely freak out, because the trend might affect humans, too.
A new study from the Cardiff University Otter Project and the Chemicals, Health, and Environmental Monitoring Trust (CHEM) found that otter penis bones are getting smaller. What researchers haven’t yet determined is if endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are to blame. Otters have different reproductive physiognomy, but EDCs can also lead to human babies with undescended testicles, sex organ deformities and low sperm count.
The connection requires further investigation, but the study notes that humans and animals are exposed to many of the same chemicals on a daily basis. According to Dr. Eleanor Kean from the Cardiff University, the otter is a very good indicator of the health of the environment in the UK, and in the 1970s, the presence of pollutants caused a giant crash in the aquatic animal’s population. Many of these chemicals have been banned, but others still exist and aren’t monitored. Too bad for otters. This is an alarming find, but you can rest a little easier knowing you already have a penis. [Daily Mail]
Image credit: Shutterstock/S.Cooper Digital
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“Penis Bone”?
Leslie, if you’d like to do an inspection, I’ve got a “little” surprise for you.
THERE”S NO BONE IN A BONER!
We’re one of very few mammals without.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baculum
Well, my bone(r) isn’t gonna shrink if I haven’t got one.
Might shrink from you being an arse.
OK lets review the facts
1. Otter penis bones are shrinking
2. There is no evidence linking EDCs with this
3. Since few human males spend a large part of their lives immersed in the same rivers water as the otters and even fewer drink it without it being treated, the chance of it effecting said human males even if a link is found is minimal.
4 Otters have not actually “said” anything on the subject and unless the pollution is mutating their vocal chords and the speech centres of their brains they are unlikely to comment in an intelligible fashion.
5. Nobody has pointed out the mildly humorous juxtaposition of a penis size article by a writer named Horn.
You really are one pedantic bastard, aren’t you?
According to Ms Hannaford, Mrs Jones and a representative sample of the other poor sods who have to put up with me, yes.
That being said, however, all your points make rational sense. So you pedant-ism is only further supported by your logic.
I do not like how the article begins with “Otter dicks”. Usually I do not have a problem with swearing in articles but the fact that it is a scientific article and then “penis” is used throughout, the word “dick” really bugs me.
It’s just not cool.